VSR: Harlee Named Athlete of the Week

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Sophomore Jess Harlee is the West Virginia University Student-Athlete of the Week for her performances against St. Bonaventure and North Carolina Central last weekend.

The Bel Air, Md., native recorded the first double-double of her career with 12 points and 12 rebounds against St. Bonaventure. Two days later, she set a new career-high with 20 points as she co-led the Mountaineers in scoring and rebounding with eight rebounds, helping WVU to a 97-24 victory over North Carolina Central.

Additionally, Harlee led WVU in stealing efforts as she grabbed a career-best seven steals, helping the Mountaineers to 27 team steals, the most by a team under Mike Carey.

This Week in Women’s BasketballThe West Virginia women’s basketball team takes to the road for the first time this season in its next outing, Friday, Nov. 25, as it takes on UCLA in the opening round of the Woodland Hills Holiday Inn Thanksgiving Basketball Classic in Northridge, Calif.

Last Week in Women’s BasketballThe Mountaineers went 1-1 last week as they fell to St. Bonaventure, 56-48, on Friday, but bounced back to defeat North Carolina Central, 97-24, on Sunday.

Notes & QuotesThe Mountaineers’ loss on Friday was the first non-conference loss at home since Dec. 13, 2008 … Jess Harlee recorded her first career double-double against St. Bonaventure with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Brooke Hampton led the Mountaineers in scoring with 13 points … two days later, Harlee co-led all players with Taylor Palmer as each had 20 points in the win over North Carolina Central … limiting NCCU to only 24 points is the lowest point total in the WVU Coliseum in the history of the program … overall, 24 points is the second-lowest point total in WVU history as the Mountaineers held Marshall to only 21 points last season … as part of its defensive scheme, WVU forced 42 NCCU turnovers, tying for the second-most opponent turnovers in a single game since Feb. 1, 1982, and the most under coach Mike Carey … more than half of the turnovers were steals as WVU recorded 27, the most by a team under Carey.

This Week in Cross CountryThe No. 9 Mountaineers close the 2011 season today at the NCAA Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. ... the women’s 6k race is slated to begin at approximately 12:58 p.m. ET ... the championship can be viewed via live streaming provided by ncaa.com.

Last Week in Cross CountryThe Mountaineers did not compete.

Notes & QuotesRedshirt senior Kaylyn Christopher matches former great Megan Metcalfe as the only Mountaineers in school history to compete in four NCAA Cross Country Championships ... redshirt senior Kate Harrison will make her fourth trip to the NCAAs, but did not compete her freshman year in 2007 due to injury ... redshirt senior Ahna Lewis and junior Sarah-Anne Brault make their third trips, while Katie Gillespie and Stephanie Aldea make their second trip ... Harrison, Gillespie and Brault have led the team in finishes in three consecutive races ... the Mountaineers seek their fourth Top 10 national finish in five years this season.

This Week in Men’s SoccerThe Mountaineers have completed their season.

Last Week in Men’s SoccerWVU fell to No. 5 Maryland, 4-0, on Sunday evening at Ludwig Field in a second-round contest of the NCAA Tournament … the Terrapins held both the shot (19-5) and corner kick (8-6) advantages … to go along with three goals, Maryland’s Casey Townsend recorded a game-high four shots, while Andy Bevin and Uwem Etuk had two shots apiece for the Mountaineers.

Notes and QuotesThe Mountaineers finished the season with an 11-8-1, their second consecutive season with 11 wins… ten of West Virginia’s matches were against Top 25 opponents at the time of the match and WVU had a record of 5-5 against those teams.

This Week in Swimming & DivingBoth teams are idle.

Last Week in Swimming & DivingThe squads swam in the Pitt Invitational last weekend with the men taking second with 1,009 points, while the women finished third with 714.5 points ... Pitt (1,148 points) placed first for the men, followed by WVU, Connecticut (896), Cincinnati (398) and the Michigan (262) divers ... Ohio State (1,313) took home first place, followed by Pitt (770), WVU, Connecticut (567), Cincinnati (314.5) and the Michigan (191) divers.

Notes and QuotesThe meet was filled with top finishes, including three relay victories … the men’s 200 free relay of Tim Squires, Scott Fetsko, Taylor Camp and Brad Eichenseer took first in 1:20.92 … Squires, Eichenseer, Camp and Jake Kudrna combined for a first-place finish in the 400 free relay in 3:00.03 … Mandie Nugent, Kata Fodor, Danielle Smith and Rachael Burnett were victorious in the 800 free relay with a time of 7:20.90 … all three swims were NCAA “B” cut times … individually, six different Mountaineers had first-place finishes, led by two for Burnett and Camp … Burnett had two NCAA “B” cut times with victories in the 500 free (4:46.48) and 400 IM (4:17.41), while Camp recorded NCAA “B” cut times with wins in the 100 fly (47.65) and 200 fly (1:47.90) … Nugent rounded out the women’s top finishes with a first-place finish and NCAA “B” cut time of 1:57.80 in the 200 fly … Squires, Jake Querciagrossa and Bryce Bohman finished first in the 50 free (20.42), 400 IM (3:57.71) and 200 back (1:47.69), respectively, for the men.

This Week in VolleyballThe Mountaineers will travel to Huntington, W. Va. for its final match of the 2011 season ... WVU will take on the Thundering Herd of Marshall on Friday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Cam Henderson Center.

Last Week in VolleyballWVU was idle.

Notes and QuotesWVU finished out BIG EAST regular-season play by losing to USF 3-2 in its final home match of the season … the Mountaineers finished 11th in the BIG EAST rankings with a 5-9 record … senior Michelle Kopecky leads the team with 241 kills, 2.80 kills per set and 29 service aces … by recording 45 assists against USF, senior setter Kari Post moves up one spot on the all-time assists list in the WVU record book … the Yuba City, Calif., native now has 3,339 assists in her career, which places her at No. 4 … after recording 29 digs against USF, senior libero Serinna Russo also moves up in the WVU record book … the Riverside, Calif., native has 503 digs, which places her at No. 3 on the Total Digs in a Season list.

This Week in WrestlingThe Mountaineers will enjoy a week off from competition as they begin preparations for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 3-4.

Last Week in WrestlingWVU traveled to Annapolis, Md., for the Navy Classic.

Notes and QuotesJunior Shane Young (125) and redshirt sophomore Nathan Pennesi (141) placed first at the Navy Classic … it is the second week in a row that both Pennesi and Young have won their weight class bracket in a tournament … Young and Pennesi now both own a 9-0 record this season … in total, seven WVU grapplers placed at the Navy Classic … redshirt junior Lance Bryson also wrestled in the final match of his weight class, but fell to Navy’s Peter Huntley, who was ranked No. 20 in the nation.